Wanindu Hasaranga banned after slamming umpire over non-no-ball call; Rahmanullah Gurbaz penalized

Sri Lanka T20I skipper Wanindu Hasaranga has been banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for two games. The leg-spinner was found guilty of breaching article 2.13 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the recently concluded third T20I against Afghanistan.

After the breach of the code of conduct in the third T20I against Afghanistan, Wanindu Hasranga’s total demerit points reached five within 24 months. The Sri Lanka T20 skipper received a 50 percent fine and three demerit points following his breach.

Wanindu Hasaranga was found guilty of breaching Article 2.13 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. This law is associated with “Personal abuse of a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire or Match Referee during an International Match.”

Wanindu Hasaranga came under scanner after he expressed his frustration at umpire Lyndon Hanibal. The leg-spinner was left in totters related to the decision of a high full toss not called a no-ball during the third T20I against Afghanistan.

Wanindu Hasaranga bagging five demerit points means he bow has two suspension points. The leg-spinner will now get a ban for either one Test match or two ODIs or T20Is, whichever comes first, for the player or player support personnel. Sri Lanka star won’t be allowed to participate in two T20Is against Bangladesh next month.

Wanindu Hasaranga, who is the second-ranked T20I bowler on the ICC Men’s Player Rankings, was awarded Player of the Series in the three-match series against Afghanistan. He picked four wickets in the series and also was handy with the bat.

The Sri Lanka skipper slammed 67 runs in the first game and then followed it with innings of 22 off 9 balls in the second game and a 13-run knock in the last match. His sensational all-round performance helped his team seal the series by the margin of 2-1. The series was an ideal preparation for them for the T20 World Cup 2024, set to take place in the USA and Caribbean in June this year

Apart from Wanindu Hasaranga, Rahmanullah Gurbaz also gets penalized by the ICC

Apart from Wanindu Hasaranga, Afghanistan player Rahmanullah Gurbaz was also penalized by the ICC. He has been fined 15 percent of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct in the third T20I against Sri Lanka.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz was penalized for altering the grip of his bat on the field despite repeated warnings against doing so. The keeper-batter breached 2.4 of the Code, which relates to “Disobeying an Umpire’s instruction during an International Match.”

Apart from this, Rahmanullah Gurbaz also was docked with one demerit point. This was his second offense within 24 months. The keeper-batter’s total demerit points have been added to two now.

Both Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Wandinu Hasaranga admitted the offences. Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees Chris Broad imposed the sanctions on both players and there wasn’t a need for a formal hearing.

On-field umpires Lyndon Hannibal and Raveendra Wimalasiri, third umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge, and fourth umpire Ranmore Martinez put the charges on both players.